Packaging gramophone records

ABSTRACT

A package for a gramophone record includes an outer sleeve comprising a pair of side members connected on three edges by flaps integral with one side member and each folded to provide a spine and a marginal flap adhered to the other side member, and an inner sleeve for receiving a record and provided with a spacer on one side member thereof which faces the other outer sleeve side member, the spacer having a thickness equal to the thickness of that part of each marginal flap overlapped by a record when received in the package. The spacer may be adhered to or integral with the inner sleeve.

United States Patent 1 Garrod [54] PACKAGING GRAMOPHONE RECORDS [76]Inventor: Norman John Garrod, Great Common, Bletchingley, England [22]Filed: Feb. 8, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 224,488

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 1, 1971 Mar. 30, 1971 GreatBritain ..5,727/71 Great Britain ,.8,256/7l [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 2,458,737 1/1949 Salkowitz ..229/14 C UX 2,691,440l0/1954 Spugios et a1. ..206/62 P 2,807,359 9/1957 McKiernan ..206/62 P11] 3,731,794 [451 May 8, 1973 3,307,772 3/1967 Garrod ..229/68 R3,349,990 10/1967 Woodford ..229/14 C X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS1,220,632 1/1971 Great Britain ..2()6/62 P Primary Examiner-Samuel B.Rothberg Assistant Examiner-Steven E. Li pman Attorney-Alexander &Dowell [57] ABSTRACT A package for a gramophone record includes an outersleeve comprising a pair of side members connected on three edges byflaps integral with one side member and each folded to provide a spineand a marginal flap adhered to the other side member, and an innersleeve for receiving a record and provided with a spacer on one sidemember thereof which faces the other outer sleeve side member, thespacer having a thickness equal to the thickness of that part of eachmarginal flap overlapped by a record when received in the package. Thespacer may be adhered to or integral with the inner sleeve.

13 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures I I I I 1 Patented May s, 1973 373L794PACKAGING GRAMOPHONE RECORDS The present invention relates to thepackaging of gramophone records.

With the introduction of record sleeves provided with spines on at leasttwo opposite sleeve edges, it was thought that it would be practical tostore filled record sleeves horizontally in stacks of about five to sixfeet in height. However it has been found that as a result of stackingfilled sleeves in which the spines are each formed by folding up a flapon the margin of one sleeve member and adhering a portion of it to amarginal portion of the other sleeve member, the enclosed records becomedished. This deformation of the record occurs because edge portions ofan enclosed record are supported on the adhered flap portions of thesleeve while the center of the record is unsupported. In a stack offilled sleeves the unsupported weight of the individual record istransmitted downwards with increasing dishing of the records.

To counteract this effect it has been proposed, for example in BritishPatent specification No. 1,225,408, to make arcuate cut-outs in theadhered flap portions. The record is received within and positionallylocated by the arcuate cut-outs and is supported over its entire surfaceby the side member to which the flap portions are adhered. However ifthese cut-outs are made in flap portions which are adhered directly tothe side member and form the basic connection between the two sidemembers, the strength of this connection and therefore of the sleeve asa whole is considerably reduced As an alternative it has also beenproposed in British Patent specification No. 1,220,632 to adhere anextra panel to the inner surface of the side member in question to makeup the difference in thickness at the center of sleeve, so that anenclosed record is supported at the edges by the flap portions and atthe center by the extra panel. This has a number of disadvantages amongwhich are that the extra panel has to be adhered to the side member whenthe sleeve is being made up necessitating modification of the sleevemakeup machinery and that an image of the panel appears on the outersurface of the sidemember thereby spoiling the sleeve appearance.

According to the'present invention it is proposed to obviate the abovedisadvantages by providing a spacer member, of a thickness equal to thethickness of the marginal flap portions of the outer sleeve which areoverlapped by an enclosed record, on the inner sleeve substantiallycentrally thereof.

Accordingly there is provided a package for a gramophone recordcomprising an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve received by the outersleeve and in which a record is received, the outer sleeve comprising apair of side members connected on at least two edges by flaps integralwith one side member and folded to provide a spine and a marginal flapadhered to the inner surface of the other side member, the inner sleevecomprising a pair of side members and wherein that inner sleeve sidemember facing the other outer sleeve side member is provided centrallythereof with a spacer member having an overall thickness which is equalto the thickness of that part of each marginal flap which is overlappedby a record when received in the package.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description of embodiments thereof, given byway of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is part of a central section through a filled outer sleeve asdescribed in any of British Patent specifications Nos. 1,231,771 and1,119,823 or in the complete specification of British Patent applicationNo. 34209/69 showing how distortions can occur;

FIGS. 2 to 5 are parts of central sections through embodiments of arecord package with an inner sleeve according to the invention; and

FIG. 6 is a plan view of an inner sleeve.

As shown in FIG. 1, a record 1,. enclosed in an inner sleeve 2 of, forexample paper, plastics sheet or plastics foil lined paper, ispositioned within an outer board sleeve 3 as described in any of theabove referred to patent specifications in which each spine 4 is formedfrom double folded marginal flaps integral with one sleeve side memberand folded to provide the double thickness spine 4, a double thicknessmarginal flap portion 5 adhered to the other side member and an innerflap portion 6 overlying the inner surface of the one side member. Withthe filled sleeve 3 stacked horizontally as shown, the record marginsoverlap and are supported by the double flap portions 5 while the centerof the record is unsupported. The record will therefore tend to bedistorted to the shape shown in broken lines. A similar distortion willoccur if the filled sleeve is stacked the other way up, with the recordmargins overlapping and being supported on flap portions 6.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the board sleeve 3 has doublefoldedmarginal flaps 4 on the three closed edges and may have acorrespondingly folded closure on the open edge. Two spacer members 7, 8are adhered to the inner sleeve 2 at the center thereof. The spacermembers are made of the same board as the outer sleeve 3, the member 7being made of two thicknesses of the board to correspond to the doublethickness flap portion 5 and the member 8 being made of a singlethickness of board corresponding to the single thickness inner flapportion 6.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the outer sleeve 3 has been modifiedby the provision of arcuate cutouts in flap portions 6 and in the innerlayer 5a, of double thickness flap portions 5 on the three closed edgesand on the open edge of the sleeve. These cutouts can be made withoutimpairing the strength of the sleeve to too great an extent. No cut-outis made in the outer layer 5b of flap portions 5 so that the sleeve isnot weakened. The thickness of that part of each flap portion 5overlapped by the record is therefore compensated for by the provisionof a single thickness board spacer member 9 on the inner sleeve 2. Inthis embodiment the total width of the spines 4 is less by double thethickness of the board than that of the spines of the sleeves of FIGS. 1and 2.

It is of course not necessary to make the spacers of the same board asthat from which the outer sleeve is made. This is merely convenient asit automatically provides a spacer of the required thickness.Furthermore the or each spacer need not have a continuous thickness ofthe required amount. The or each spacer may be formed with projectionssuch that the overall thickness of the spacer is equal to the thicknessof the flap portions for which compensation is required. Such a spacermay, for example, be formed of corrugated sheet material, e.g. paper orboard, of the required thickness or of vacuum formed plastics sheetingprovided with bosses, parallel or intersecting ribs or some otherupstanding design, for example of a portrait of the artist recorded onthe enclosed record.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the outer sleeve 3 has theconstruction shown in FIG. 2. The inner sleeve 2 is made of plasticsmaterial and is formed with spacer members 12, 13 in either side memberof the sleeve to compensate for the thickness of flap portions and 6.Each spacer member 12, 13 is formed with parallel ribs 11, the ribs ofthe member 12 being twice as deep as those of member 12.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the record 1 is enclosed in aplastics inner sleeve 2 which is located in an outer board sleeve 3provided with spines 4 on its three closed edges each of which is formedby a flap integral with one sleeve side member which is folded toprovide the spine 4 and a marginal flap portion 5 adhered to the othersleeve side member to complete the sleeve edge. The sleeve 3 may also beprovided with a correspondingly folded closure on its open edge.

Diametrically opposite marginal portions of the record 1 are supportedon the flap portions 5 and the center of the record is supported by aspacer member integral with the inner sleeve 2. The spacer member 10 isvacuum formed with intersecting ribs 11 as in the embodiment of FIG. 4.

The members 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12 may be circular in plan as shown in FIG.6 or polygonal as desired and may have a greater or lesser extent thanthat shown in FIG. 6. They may be printed if required.

The invention is applicable to any outer sleeve construction in whichthere are flap portions on the inner surface of one side member whichare overlapped by an enclosed record and on which marginal portions ofthe record may be supported when the filled sleeve is horizontal.

There is thus provided a package for a record in which the record issupported at its margin and at its center so that substantially nodistortion of the record will occur when the filled package is stacked.Furthermore because the spacer member is provided on the inner sleeve,its position will not affect manufacture of the outer sleeve or theappearance of the outer sleeve.

Iclaim:

l. A package for a gramophone record comprising an outer sleeve and aninner sleeve received by the outer sleeve and in which a record isreceived, said outer sleeve comprising a pair of side members connectedon at least two edges by flaps integral with one of said side membersand folded to provide a spine and a marginal flap adhered to the innersurface of the other of said side members, said inner sleeve comprisinga pair of side members with that one of said inner sleeve side membersfacing the other of said outer sleeve side members being providedcentrally thereof with a spacer member having an overall thickness whichis equal to the thickness of that part of each said marginal flap whichis overlapped by said record in the package. I

2. A package according to claim 1 wherein said outer sleeve side membersare connected on three edges by said flaps.

3. A package according to claim 2 wherein the open edge of said outersleeve is provided with a closure formed by a flap integral with saidone side member and foldable to provide in closed condition of thesleeve a spine and a marginal flap portion positionable to overlie saidinner surface of said other side member.

4. A package according to claim 1 wherein each of said flaps is foldedto provide a double thickness marginal flap portion and said spacermember has an overall thickness equal to the thickness of the doublethickness of said marginal flap portions.

5. A package according to claim 1 wherein each of said flaps is foldedto provide a double thickness marginal flap portion, the inner layer ofeach of which is cut away centrally thereof so that said record receivedin the package overlaps only the outer layers of said marginal flapportions and said spacer member has an overall thickness equal to thethickness of said outer layers of said marginal flap portions.

6. A package according to claim 4 wherein each of said flaps is foldedto provide a double thickness spine and an inner flap portion whichoverlies the inner surface of said one member and is overlapped by saidrecord in the package, and a second spacer is provided on the other ofsaid inner sleeve side members centrally thereof and having an overallthickness equal to the thickness of said inner flap portions.

7. A package according to claim 5 wherein each of said flaps is foldedto provide a double thickness spine and an inner flap portion whichoverlies the inner surface of said one member and is overlapped by saidrecord in the package, and a second spacer is provided on the other ofsaid inner sleeve side members centrally thereof and having an overallthickness equal to the thickness of said inner flap portions.

8. A package according to claim 1 wherein said spacer is made of thatmaterial from which said outer sleeve is made and is adhered to saidinner sleeve.

9. A package according to claim 1 wherein said spacer is formed of sheetmaterial provided with projections whose depth constitutes said overallthickness thereof.

10. A package according to claim 9 wherein the inner sleeve is made ofplastics material and the spacer is formed integrally therewith.

11. A package according to claim 10 wherein each said inner sleeve sidemember is vacuum formedwith projections constituting the said spacermember.

12. A package for a gramophone record comprising an outer sleeve and aninner sleeve received by the outer sleeve and in which a record isreceived, said outer sleeve comprising a pair of side members connectedon three edges by flaps integral with one of said side members and eachfolded to provide a double thickness spine and marginal flap portionwhich is adhered to the inner surface of the other of said side membersand an inner flap portion which overlies the inner surface of said oneside member, said inner sleeve comprising a pair of side members, andwherein said inner sleeve side members each being provided centrallythereof with a spacer member having an overall thick-mess which is equalto the thickness of that part of said flap portions overlying thesurface of that one of said outer sleeve side members which it faces,and which are overlapped by said record in the package.

13. A package according to claim 12 wherein the inner layer of each ofsaid double thickness marginal flap portions is cut away centrallythereof such that said record in the package only overlaps the outerlayer of each said double thickness marginal flap portions. 5

1. A package for a gramophone record comprising an outer sleeve and aninner sleeve received by the outer sleeve and in which a record isreceived, said outer sleeve comprising a pair of side members connectedon at least two edges by flaps integral with one of said side membersand folded to provide a spine and a marginal flap adhered to the innersurface of the other of said side members, said inner sleeve comprisinga pair of side members with that one of said inner sleeve side membersfacing the other of said outer sleeve side members being providedcentrally thereof with a spacer member having an overall thickness whichis equal to the thickness of that part of each said marginal flap whichis overlapped by said record in the package.
 2. A package according toclaim 1 wherein said outer sleeve side members are connected on threeedges by said flaps.
 3. A package according to claim 2 wherein the openedge of said outer sleeve is provided with a closure formed by a flapintegral with said one side member and foldable to provide in closedcondition of the sleeve a spine and a marginal flap portion positionableto overlie said inner surface of said other side member.
 4. A packageaccording to claim 1 wherein each of said flaps is folded to provide adouble thickness marginal flap portion and said spacer member has anoverall thickness equal to the thickness of the double thickness of saidmarginal flap portions.
 5. A package according to claim 1 wherein eachof said flaps is folded to provide a double thickness marginal flapportion, the inner layer of each of which is cut away centrally thEreofso that said record received in the package overlaps only the outerlayers of said marginal flap portions and said spacer member has anoverall thickness equal to the thickness of said outer layers of saidmarginal flap portions.
 6. A package according to claim 4 wherein eachof said flaps is folded to provide a double thickness spine and an innerflap portion which overlies the inner surface of said one member and isoverlapped by said record in the package, and a second spacer isprovided on the other of said inner sleeve side members centrallythereof and having an overall thickness equal to the thickness of saidinner flap portions.
 7. A package according to claim 5 wherein each ofsaid flaps is folded to provide a double thickness spine and an innerflap portion which overlies the inner surface of said one member and isoverlapped by said record in the package, and a second spacer isprovided on the other of said inner sleeve side members centrallythereof and having an overall thickness equal to the thickness of saidinner flap portions.
 8. A package according to claim 1 wherein saidspacer is made of that material from which said outer sleeve is made andis adhered to said inner sleeve.
 9. A package according to claim 1wherein said spacer is formed of sheet material provided withprojections whose depth constitutes said overall thickness thereof. 10.A package according to claim 9 wherein the inner sleeve is made ofplastics material and the spacer is formed integrally therewith.
 11. Apackage according to claim 10 wherein each said inner sleeve side memberis vacuum formed with projections constituting the said spacer member.12. A package for a gramophone record comprising an outer sleeve and aninner sleeve received by the outer sleeve and in which a record isreceived, said outer sleeve comprising a pair of side members connectedon three edges by flaps integral with one of said side members and eachfolded to provide a double thickness spine and marginal flap portionwhich is adhered to the inner surface of the other of said side membersand an inner flap portion which overlies the inner surface of said oneside member, said inner sleeve comprising a pair of side members, andwherein said inner sleeve side members each being provided centrallythereof with a spacer member having an overall thick-ness which is equalto the thickness of that part of said flap portions overlying thesurface of that one of said outer sleeve side members which it faces,and which are overlapped by said record in the package.
 13. A packageaccording to claim 12 wherein the inner layer of each of said doublethickness marginal flap portions is cut away centrally thereof such thatsaid record in the package only overlaps the outer layer of each saiddouble thickness marginal flap portions.